Almost a year ago, I wrote this:

Oregon’s state leg flipped to Dem control in the 2006 elections. Check out what they’ve done in the year since:

And it’s not only campaign metrics that look good for Oregon Democrats. The Democratic legislature did what it was elected to do, and the 2007 legislative session was viewed by many to be the best in decades in the state, with the new Democratic trifecta passing, among other things: placing a cap on predatory payday lending practices; creating a rainy day fund; allowing domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples; ensuring employment nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; passing card check legislation; creating a 25 percent renewable energy standard by 2025; increasing the budget for both K-12 and higher education; the list goes on and on.

While some of that will freak out right-wingers, all of it points to a forward-looking state government acting for the common good. Imagine Albany gridlock replaced by this kind of forward momentum. That’s why flipping the senate is so important, I don’t care how much you like Robach or Alesi. And if a couple seats flip downstate in other districts ripe to go Dem, Robach and Alesi’s member item love-buying power will be greatly diminished.

Wait a minute, rewind a little there. “Card check” legislation? Isn’t that one of labor’s biggest priorities? From my research, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) passed the US House (no thanks to Randy Kuhl) but looks like it stalled in the US Senate. Oregon short-circuited that and passed their own version of EFCA.

How were they able to do that? Because they flipped the state government to Dem control. Joe Robach may bring some targeted “juice” into the district and buy him some votes, but imagine if we had Dollinger in there to flip the NY Senate to a full-steam, pro-labor Dem majority. “Card check”, investment in green energy infrastructure, the list goes on.

Oregon’s legislature did all that and more in the very first session the Dems were in power. What could a gridlock-free Albany do?

Related posts:

1. Benefits of Flipping a State Legislature
2. No Incumbents are endorsed by D&C editorial board for State Legislature
3. Progressive Wins at the State Level across the US
4. State Senate: Why is the people’s business a waste of time?
5. Did you call your State Senator yet?